Subdued, Swamy returns to Chennai

Swamy, was camping in Delhi ever since the election results were announced. It is said, that Jayalalitha was reportedly seeking the Finance portfolio for Swamy but he said his claim for a berth was based on his qualifications.

Asked if he was being given any other responsibility such as heading a national commission, Swamy told The Indian Express, “all that can be discussed only after the BJP government proves its majority on the floor of the house. Let them first prove their majority.”

When told that President K R Narayanan had appointed Atal Behari Vajpayee as Prime Minister, Swamy quipped “best of luck to him”.

Meanwhile,Jayalalitha spoke to Swamy on telephone after he arrived in Chennai and conveyed the message to him. Swamy said, Jayalalitha had spoken to him in the morning over the telephone in Delhi and then again tried to contact him at his Delhi house. But, by the time, he had left for the airport to catch the flight for Chennai. “I left my house at 3.45 p.m,” he said.

Swamy said Jayalalitha had done all that she could, “she has my full support. She has done whatever is feasible. I wish them all the best,” he added.